Fixture-attaching strap



lbatented Sept. 2G, 1927.

g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FIXTURE-ATTACHING STRAP.

Application filed/February 28, 1924. Serial N0. 695,871.

My invention relates to electric light attaching` straps, and to this endit consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

Said invention has for its object to provide such an attaching device that is applicab'le to standard outlet boxes and the like, and that is adjustable not only for different sized brackets, canopies and the like, but that is adjustable to properly position the same in case the outlet box is not set true in the wall or ceiling of a building;

Said invention also provides aV permanent ground for the attaching fixture, which is customarily required by ordinance.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indi cate like parts throughout the several'views.

Referring to the drawings: y

Fig. l is a side elevation of a wall bracket secured to an outlet box byfnieansof the invention Fig. 2 is a face view of an outlet box;

Fig. 3 is a View principally in edge elevation with a portion of the wall `bracket sectioned;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary back view of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a detail view in section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.j2;

Fig.6 is a detail view in section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a face view of the invention, with some parts broken away, and illustrating two of the movable bars used in connection with the fixed bar. p j

The numeral 8 indicates a plastered wall or other wall in which isset an outlet box 9 attached to a metal conduit 10, and the numeral 11 indicates an electric light fixture of the wall bracket type with the exception of the canopy 12 having upper and lower screw holes 18. The outlet box 9 is provided with a pair of inwardly projecting diametrically opposite ears 14 that are tapped to receive attaching screws 15. The parts thus far described are of standard and well known construction and havebeen il lustrated simply for the purpose of showing the invention applied in working position.

The invention is in the form of a longitudinally adjustable strap comprising a fixed bar 16 and a movable bar 17 the former of which is carried by a disk-like face plate 18 applicable to the open face of the outlet box 9. The fixed bar 16 extends vertically through the face plate 18 and the lower end thereof terminates just slightly outward of the periphery of said face plate, and the upper end thereof extends materially radially outward thereof. Formed in the face plate 18 outward of the fixed bar 16 is a pair yof segmental slots 18 arranged to receive the bodies of the screws 15 with their heads arranged to impinge against the outer surface of said face plate.

Obviously, by tightening the screws 15, the face plate 18 may be frictionally clamped against the wall 8 and the outer edge por` tion of the outlet box 9. The intermediate vportion of the fixed member 16 is outwardly pressed to forni a longitudinal channel 19. Cut and pressed from the bottom and sides of the channel 19 are a multiplicity of retaining lugs 20 that project into the channel from each side thereof in the plane of the bar 16. A longitudinal slot 21 is formed in ythe bottom of the channel 19 and at each end of said slot is a screw hole 22 formedY in the bar 16. As shown, the bar 16, and face plate 18 are formed from a single flat plate.

rlhe movable bar 17 is mounted inthe channel 19 for endwise sliding kmovement and projects downward beyond the short end of the fixed bar 16. Said movable bar 17 is intermediately and inwardly pressed to form a shallow longitudinal channel 23. A longitudinal slot 23 is formed in the bottom of the channel 23, and which slot is coincident with the slot 21, and at each end of said slot 23 is formed in the movable bar 17 a tapped screw hole 24. By channelling the bars 16 and 17, the channel 19 not only affords a guide for the movable bar 17, but said channels greatly strengthen t-he respective bars. Furthermore, the channel in; the movable bar 17 materially reduces the wearing surface of said bar and thereby causes the same to move more easily and with a better fit in the channel 19.

After the attaching strap has been secured to the outlet box 9 by the screws 15, the same, owing to the slots 18', may be turned in respect to the screws 15 and set in a true perpendicular position before said screws are finally tightened to frictionally clamp the face plate 18 in position.'y By sliding the movable bar 17 endwise in the channel 19, the same may be longitudinally adjusted to bring the upper screw hole 22 and the lower screw hole 24 the same distance apart as the distance between the twoV screwy holes 13 in the canopy 12. After this adjustment has been made, the canopy 12 is placed over the attaching strap and screws 25 are inserted into the holes 13 and screwed into the respective holes 22 and 24.

l3y reference to Fig. 3 it will be' noted that the canopy 12 does not come in Contact with the attaching strap so that the screws 25 may hold the wall bracket with the edge portion of its canopy in direct contact with the wall 8.

For small canopies or brackets having screw holes set a given distance apart that corresponds to the distance between the screw holes 22, the movable bar 17 may be dispensed with and said canopy or bracket secured to the attaching strap by inserting the two screws 25 into the holes 22.

For extra large canopies or brackets, two movable bars 17 maybe used, as shown in Fig. 7. 1f desired, the movable bar 1T may be secured against endwise movement after being properly adjusted by inserting a. nut-equipped bolt 26 through the coincident slots 21 and 23, as best shown in Fig. 5.

To more securely hold the attaching strap in position particularly when the movable bar 17 is moved to substantially its full length, a wood screw 27 may be inserted into the slot 23 and screwed into the wall A pair of diametrically opposite segmental apertures 28 aie formed in the face plate 18 between the slots 18 and the fixed bar 1G. These apertures 28 not only lighten the attachingstrap but aliord passageways tor the wires 29 leading from the terminals of the iixture to the circuit wires 30 in the conduit 10.

In case either one or both of they movable bars 17 slide too freely on the fixed bar 16 one or more of the retaining` lugs 20 may be bent inward onto one or both of said movable bars to increase the rictional engagement therebetween and thereby hold said movable bars where set.

TNlien attaching the canopy 12 to one of the movable bars 17 by the screw 25, the drawing action ot said screw will move the canopy toward said bar and at the same time draw the movable bar 17 into tight frictional engagement with the iixed bar 1G and thereby securely hold the same against endwise movement. v

The above described iixture-attaching strap has, in actual usage, proven highly etticient for the purpose had in view.

VJhat 1 claim is:

1. A iixture-attaching` strap comprising a fixed channel bar having retaining lugs and a. movable bar slidably mounted in the channel of the iixed bar and held by the retaining lugs, said two bars having means for attaching a iixture thereto, said [ixedbar being arranged to span the open tace ot an outlet box, and means l'or attaching the i'ixed bar to the outlet box in different rotated positions parallel to the open tace of the outlet box.

2. A fixture-attaching strap comprising a iixed channel bar adapted to span the open tace of an outlet box, means for attaching the Fixed bar to the outlet box, a movable channel bar inverted in respect to the fixed channel bar and mounted therein, said fixed bar having'at its sides outstanding iianges, and retaining lugs cut ronithe bottom and sides of the iixed channel bar and pressed into the plane ot said side 'flanges to hold the movable bar in the iixed channel bar with freedom for longitudinal sliding movement.

3. A iixture-attaching strap including a fixed chaiinelbar rigidly applicable to an outlet box and adapted to span said box and bear thereon at diametrically opposite points, and a movable bar slidably mounted in the channel ot the fixed bar for straight line endwise movement during the rigid application ol' said iixed bar, said iixed bar havingretaining members holding the movable bar in the channel thereof.

4. A fixture attaching strap comprising a fixed channel bar adapted to span the open tace of an outlet box, means for attaching the iixed bar to the outlet box, and a movable channel bar inverted in respect to the iixed channel bar and mounted therein, said fixed bar having inturned retaining lugs holding the movable barin the iixed channel bar for endwise sliding niovenient-- 5. .A fixture attaching strap comprising a fixed bar adapted to span the open face of an outlet box, means for attaching the fixed bar to the outlet box, said fixed bar having a greater radial projection on one side or' the outlet box than on the other, and a movable bar mounted on the iixed bar for longitudinal adjustment 'from the end of the tixed bar having the lesser radial projection from the outlet box. Y Y

6. A fixture-attaching strap comprising a fixed bar and a movable bar, each oi' said bars having any intermediatev longitudinal channel, said movable bar being slidably mounted in the channel of the iixe'd bar with its channel inverted in respect thereto, said fixed bar having retaininglugs that extend into its channel and overlap the movable bar, said two bars having means for attacliiing` a fixture thereto, said lixed bar being arranged to span the open face of an outletbox, and means ttor attaching the iixed bar to the outlet box in different rotated positions parallel to the open tace of the outlet box.

In testimony whereof 1 aiiix my signature.

MILES A. TIERNEY. 

